Headline News

County placement agencies especially need foster homes for adolescents and homes that have enough room to permit siblings to stay together. They also have a need for homes that may be used on an emergency shelter basis.

By Jan Dalske
Posted: 7/17/2015

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Nationwide, more than 500,000 children live in foster care. California has over 60,000 children in the foster care system, the largest foster care population of any state. The number of foster youth has tripled in the past 20 years. In our area of California, there are nearly 4,000 children who require temporary out-of-home care because of parental neglect.

How and why these children of all ages and needs end up in foster care is important. There are several reasons. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation, and the lack of ability to care for children are the most common reasons. The largest percentages are African American and Latino children. Some stay in foster care for weeks, some for years. You can remain in foster care until you are 18, but can stay up to the age of 20 if you meet eligibility requirements.

Posted: 7/17/2015

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force along with ICAC task forces around the country took part in “Operation Brokenheart II;” a nationwide effort to identify and arrest as many child predators as possible along with providing outreach and internet safety education. This effort took place during the months of April and May of 2015 and was a coordinated effort by law enforcement representing more than 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationally.

The Sacramento ICAC task force, which is part of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes task force, arrested four people for child pornography during the two-month-long national operation. They also served 17 search warrants and presented internet safety education to over 250 adults and children.

Cast members from left to right: Emily Marie Grant plays the part of Mandy Sanders, the mother of Robert Sanders (played by Jason F. Knittle II). Jason F. Knittle II plays the part of a 17 year old who witnesses a murder. Tessa Zehnder plays the part of Sara in RELLIK. Charlie Holliday is an actor and a SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Union Representative for Northern California. Jodi L. Church on the red carpet.
Photos by Christie Spurlock.
Photo illustration by Messenger Publishing Group.

By Christie Spurlock
Posted: 7/3/2015

SACRAMENTO REGION , CA (MPG) - On June 21st, the locally based crime thriller pilot of RELLIK premiered at both Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con and the Tower Theatre in Roseville. The Roseville premiere featured most of the cast and crew, and the excitement was palpable as everyone saw the results of their work on the big screen.

RELLIK was directed by Tim Russ, known primarily for his role as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager. Originally contacted to act in the series, Russ was intrigued by the script and ended up directing instead. The cast and crew hope that the web series will be picked up by a streaming service for wider distribution.

SMUD Director Renée Taylor attaches a Nissan Leaf to the new SMUD electric vehicle fast charger at 7825 Lichen Drive in Citrus Heights, just off of Interstate 80. This new station can charge most electric vehicles in less than 30 minutes.
Photo courtesy of SMUD

Posted: 6/19/2015

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Electric vehicle drivers have a new resource in the Sacramento region—a fast-charge station located immediately adjacent to the Interstate 80 freeway at 7825 Lichen Drive in Citrus Heights. The fast-charge station is just the second in the region to accommodate most types of electric vehicles manufactured by foreign and domestic automakers, and it’s one of the first installed in the U.S. by a utility. SMUD installed the first electric vehicle fast charger in the region last year near its headquarters at the 6200 block of S Street in Sacramento and plans to open more fast-charge stations in the coming years.

Electric vehicle drivers will pay approximately $2 per “gallon” to charge up using the station—about 40% less than the current price of gasoline. By using technology that charges vehicles at 480 volts—four times that of a standard household outlet—fast-charge-capable vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Spark EV, BMW i3 and others can fill up about 80 percent of their batteries in 30 minutes or less.

By Shaunna Boyd
Posted: 6/19/2015

Lady Antebellum views their upcoming show as an opportunity to have fun and make a memory with everyone in the audience. Don’t miss your chance to be part of that memory.
Photos by Niño Munoz.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Lady Antebellum has been playing together for almost nine years; this August will mark the ninth anniversary of their very first show together. In an interview with Messenger Publishing Group, Hillary Scott described the friendship that anchors the band as “a real summer camp vibe.” Scott explained that she and bandmates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood grew up watching VH1’s Behind the Music, so they were very familiar with the all-too-typical story of successful bands breaking up over petty arguments and egotistical posturing. “So we just learned how to talk to each other, to compromise,” said Scott.

When Scott, Kelley, and Haywood began writing songs together, Scott said, “It was like I had met my musical best friends, my brothers.”

Pilot Set to be Released at Local Comic Con

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Sacramento-area residents have something to look forward to when Rellik premieres at the Wizard World Comic Con on June 20th. Rellik is a crime drama that follows the story of two detectives as they investigate a serial killer who is terrorizing Sacramento.

The ultimate goal is for Rellik to grow into a full-season TV show. The crew of roughly 40 people worked for deferred pay in hopes that the pilot will be picked up by an online distributor such as Netflix, Hulu, or Crackle, which would bring steady production work to the Sacramento region. The pilot features Star Trek Voyager’s Tim Russ at the helm as director; Sacramento region actors Nick Fenske, Craig DeLuz, Brian Jagger, Charlie Holliday; and many more local-area cast and crew.

Posted: 6/5/2015

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Eat, drink, and be merry! Enjoy live music while tasting beer, wine, and food from local breweries, wineries, and restaurants. Soroptimist International of Citrus Heights is holding a Craft Brewfest and Wine Tasting fundraiser on June 13th. This event will be held at the beautiful and historic Rusch Home & Gardens on 7301 Antelope Drive in Citrus Heights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Soroptimist International is part of a worldwide volunteer nonprofit service organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in the local community. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be used for the many service projects the organization supports, such as A Community for Peace and Harmony House, a Teaching/Learning kitchen for A Glass Slipper’s Mariposa House, the Live Your Dream award for single mothers continuing their education, scholarships and awards for local high school students, the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Holiday Giving program, backpacks to local law enforcement agencies for sex-trafficking victims, and school supplies for students at local schools.

Admission is $35 and you must be 21 to attend. Parking is free. For more information on this event or to buy tickets, visit www.brewfestcitrusheights.com or call Rosanne Anderson at (916) 799-8702.